Schwalbes vs Meteors

[Nonkers]

Air Vice-Marshal
J.E.'Johnnie' Johnson:

"The Messerschmitt 262 and the Ardo 234 were the only proved and satisfactory non-piston-engined aeroplanes used by the Luftwaffe. These were well ahead of any Allied aeroplane, including the few Meteor 3s based near Brussels, whose poor climb and modest range made them unsuitable for combat; eventually, after more powerful engines were fitted, the Meteors carried out some strafing, but they never destroyed an enemy aeroplane in the air over Europe."


The 262 was faster but the Meteor turned better.

The 20mm on the Meteor were better fighter vs fighter than the 30mm in the 262

Overall the 262 would have the edge, but the 262 had a reliabilty problem with its engine.

Going against the Meteor Mk III is the fact that it had some stability problems, most noticably snaking at higher speed, which reportedly made accurate gunnery almost impossible when it exceeded 450 mph.

The type also suffered compressability problems when in high speed dives.

Adding nose ballast early on in the production run cured some of this, although a full solution had to wait until the F.4's redesigned engine nacelles.

The type was also hampered by an artifically dampened alieron respones, to slow the roll rate and not overstress the wings.

The Derwents also produced peak power at about 12,000 feet (Mk III's top speed was about 475 mph at 14,000 feet). Late mark Spitfires (XIV, 21 ect) were actually faster above 25,000 feet, with better throttle response.

In its favour is its excellent horizontal manouverability. In RAF comparative testing, it could easily out turn a Tempest V in a flat turn in either direction, as well as out zoom it and out dive it, at least until compressibility kicked in.

The early jet engines never had the greatest acceleration, but the centrifugal Derwents were better (and more powerful) than the axial flow Jumos attached to the Me 262, meaning that the Meteor would probably have an acceleration advantage if the fight got low and slow.

The Schwalbe has a couple of aces in the hole though.

It has the speed to dominate the fight. It probably has a roll rate advantage. The Mk III was slow in the rolling plane. The 262 can also dive and run away if it gets into trouble.